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Join our Dentistry internship in Tanzania and prepare for a career in dentistry. You’ll shadow dentists in dental clinics and health centres and learn from observing them. This is a great opportunity to get an insight into how dentistry is practiced in a developing country.

This internship will add valuable work experience to your CV. You’ll get to see advanced cases that you wouldn’t see on an internship in your home country. The health centres and clinics where you’ll work are under-resourced, so you’ll also get to see the innovative ways dentists cope with running out of supplies.

You’ll be based in Arusha, a city in northern Tanzania. With scenic nature trails and a bustling city centre, it’s the perfect setting to experience life in East Africa.

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Flexi Trips > Tanzania > Dentistry

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Volunteers / Interns

ChildrenAges 3-14(reduced price)

Children aged 3-14 must be accompanied by at least one adult paying full price

We offer discounts for families and groups of friends travelling together. Call us on 01273 007 230 for more info.

Please note this calculator is for pricing information only. You will need to choose your final dates and duration on our application form.

Personalised MyProjectsAbroad website, with all the information you need about your project, accommodation and destination

A free cultural awareness course

Membership to our volunteer social media groups, to share information and to get in touch

Support to help you complete registration or internship documents, if applicable

What's not included?

Flights

Visa costs (where applicable)

Is the Dentistry internship in Tanzania right for me?

Our Dentistry internship in Tanzania is perfect for anyone interested in a career in dentistry. It will give you relevant experience to draw on when you apply to study. If you’re already studying, seize the opportunity to build your practical dentistry knowledge.

You don’t need any previous experience to join. You'll have a supervisor to guide you, and you can reach out to our staff anytime you need to. You can find out whether dentistry is the right career for you by getting first-hand dentistry experience.

This project runs all year round so you can join whenever it suits you. The minimum duration is two weeks, but we recommend staying longer to get the most out of your placement.

What will I do at my dentistry placement in Tanzania?

You’ll gain dentistry work experience in Tanzania at a dental clinic or healthcare centre. In both placements, there are plenty of ways you can learn and gain experience. These are some of your main tasks:

Shadow and observe local dentists and experience their daily routine

Assist with minor tasks like patient screening and preparing instruments for procedures

Raise awareness of the importance of oral hygiene in local schools and communities

Your work will focus on these areas:

Observe and assist professional dentists

A large part of your internship will be spent in a dental clinic or healthcare centre, shadowing local staff. You’ll spend your time getting to know the daily routine of a dentist in Tanzania.

You’ll sit in on consultations and observe procedures, such as root canals and bonding. You might also get to see advanced cases first-hand, something you wouldn’t experience on an internship in your home country. Local dentists will teach you how to diagnose and treat these different conditions.

You’ll also have the chance to assist with minor tasks. This will include things like screening patients before consultations, helping prepare instruments and equipment, and giving patients information about oral hygiene.

Oral hygiene awareness campaigns

If you’re eager to make a difference in local communities, you can also raise awareness about the importance of oral hygiene in schools and around the community. However, this aspect of the internship is optional. You can organise your own outreaches and give talks on how to brush teeth correctly. If you’re feeling creative, you can make oral hygiene posters to hang on classroom walls. This will give students a visual reminder about why they need to care for their teeth.

Where in Tanzania will I work?

Arusha

On this Dentistry internship, you’ll spend most of your time in dental clinics or healthcare centres. The facilities and equipment might be more basic than what you’re used to. Time spent at your dentistry placement in Tanzania is a good opportunity to see how dentists cope in an under-resourced setting. If you do awareness work, this will be based in schools and rural communities.

This internship is based in Arusha, a city nestled at the foot of Mount Meru. It has a busy city centre, with buzzing bars and restaurants. There are also more rural communities on the outskirts of Arusha. You’ll see some developed buildings and tarred roads, but there will also be lots of dirt roads between more rustic buildings.

AIRPORT PICKUP, FLIGHTS AND VISAS

When you arrive at your respective airport, a member of Projects Abroad staff will be there to meet you. You can find more detailed information on arrival airports, orientation, and visas on our Tanzania Arrival Procedures page.

A typical day on the Dentistry internship in Tanzania

Your work will usually run from 8am to 4pm, Monday to Friday. You’ll have your weekends free.

On a typical day, you’ll wake up and enjoy a tasty breakfast with your host family. Then, you’ll grab your notebook and catch a dalla dalla (shared minibus taxi) to your placement. On your first day, Projects Abroad staff will accompany you to show you the way.

Mornings will usually be busier than your afternoons. You’ll start your work by sitting in on consultations and observing dental procedures. In the afternoons, you can help prepare equipment or ask local staff questions about the different cases you’ve seen throughout the day. This is a great opportunity to hear all about dentistry directly from professionals.

If you’d like, you can organise outreaches to raise awareness about dental care. This is a chance to teach children about the importance of caring for their teeth, to help with preventing future health problems.

In the evenings, you can spend time exploring, and enjoying dinner with your host family or other Projects Abroad interns and volunteers.

What are the aims and impact of this Dentistry internship?

The main aim of this project is to give you the chance to learn more about dentistry first-hand. You’ll also get to experience what dentistry is like in a developing country. As you shadow local staff, you’ll gain valuable experience to enhance your CV.

You can also help raise awareness about the importance of dental hygiene. By teaching local students the ins and outs of dental care, you can help with preventing tooth decay and gum disease. Without easy access to dental clinics, it’s particularly important to work towards preventing dental problems in these communities.

To make sure we’re always working towards a long-term vision, we’ve outlined five goals in our Medical Management Plan for Tanzania. These goals are:

Improve access to basic healthcare for disadvantaged groups

Promote awareness of non-communicable diseases

Improve hygiene standards

Improve the quality of healthcare provided to patients

Encourage an understanding of medical practices and promote an exchange of medical knowledge

Join our dental internship in Tanzania and play a part in working towards these goals.

Management Plans

We set out the aims and objectives of our projects in documents called Management Plans. We use them to properly plan the work you’ll do. They also help us measure and evaluate our achievements and impact each year.

Ultimately, our Management Plans help us make our projects better. This in turn means you get to be part of something that makes a real impact where it’s needed. Read more about our Management Plans.

Measuring Our Impact

Our projects work towards clear long-term goals, with specific annual objectives. Every volunteer and intern we send to these projects helps us work towards these goals, no matter how long they spend on our projects.

Every year we take a step back and look at how much progress we've made towards these goals. We put together a Global Impact Report, which documents our achievements. Find out more about the impact our global community of volunteers, interns and staff make, and read the latest report.

It was great to be able to assist the dental team with procedures and also learn a great deal about dentistry in general as well as see some of the uncommon and complex cases faced here in Tanzania, such as abscesses and oral cancer.

FOOD AND ACCOMMODATION

You'll stay with a host family in Arusha or Moshi. They will welcome you into their home, eager to share their customs and have you teach them about your own culture. We believe that this is the best way to immerse yourself in the culture of Tanzania and have a truly unique experience.

We will always try to let you live alongside at least one other Projects Abroad volunteer or intern at the same host family. Your room will be modest, but comfortable, clean, and safe.

LEISURE ACTIVITIES AND FREE TIME

A trip to Tanzania is the chance to experience life in the heart of Africa. There’s plenty to see and do here during your free time on your project.

A project in Tanzania wouldn’t be complete without a safari! This is a chance to see the beautiful wildlife of this country, like elephants, rhinos, and lions.

What’s more, Tanzania is home to the highest mountain in Africa, Mount Kilimanjaro. Hiking around the base through lush vegetation is a peaceful way to spend an afternoon.

Browsing through a vibrant, local market is a must while you’re there. You can also spend time in a Maasai village, getting to know a completely different way of life.

There will likely be many other volunteers in Tanzania with you. This means you have the option to explore the country independently or with a group of like-minded volunteers from different projects.

SAFETY AND STAFF SUPPORT

Your safety and security is our prime concern. We have many procedures and systems to ensure you have the support you need to enjoy your trip with peace of mind. Our Projects Abroad staff are available 24 hours a day to help, and will be on-hand to make sure you settle in well at your accommodation and placement. If you encounter any problems, they will be available to help at any time.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Glory Matoi Godfrey

Country Director

Glory took over as Tanzania Country Director in October 2012. She previously worked as Desk Officer and Programme Coordinator after joining Projects Abroad in June 2010. She enjoys introducing volunteers to Tanzania. Glory has previously spent a year in Germany as a volunteer and has a good command of the language. She is best known around the office for her professional attire, ever-changing hairdos, and love of chocolate.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Moses Phineas

Finance Manager

Moses joined the Projects Abroad team in March 2012 as a finance manager. He is in charge of the financial accounts for Tanzania. He lives in Arusha. In his spare time, he enjoys playing sports like football, basketball and volleyball.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Jackie Ali

Office Coordinator

Jackie joined Projects Abroad in 2012 as a coordinator for the 2 Week Special programme. She now helps in many roles including that of Office Assistant, Social Manager and Volunteer Coordinator for the Human Rights Project. Jackie is the person to ask if you want to know where to shop or where to go in Arusha or Zanzibar. When she's not travelling to Nairobi where she spent her childhood, you can find Jackie singing at her local church.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Angel Hezron

Assistant Medical Coordinator

Angel was born and raised in Arusha. She joined the Projects Abroad Tanzania team in 2013 and is now the assistant medical coordinator. Angel loves cooking and reading in her spare time.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Florence Mdodi

Medical Coordinator

Florence joined the Projects Abroad team in February 2018 as a Medical Coordinator. He was born and raised in the Morogoro Region in Tanzania. He has a bachelor’s degree in sociology and social work from Mwenge Catholic University. In his spare time, he enjoys watching and playing sports, like football and volleyball.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Irene Francis Munishi

Human Rights Project Coordinator

Irene joined Projects Abroad in January 2016. She is in charge of the Human Rights project. She has a Law degree and prior experience working with Community based organisations. She was most recently a legal officer at a firm.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Robert Porokwa

Robert first joined Projects Abroad in February 2011 as an Assistant Manager. He was born and raised in an area of Tanzania called Engikaret in Longido District. He holds a Bachelor degree in Geography & Environmental Studies from the University of Dar es Salaam. Before joining Projects Abroad he spent four months running an HIV/Aids research project in the Maasai community. He likes travelling, swimming, reading and playing volleyball.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Emanuel Edward Mndeme

Emanuel joined Projects Abroad in August 2013. He is originally from Arusha in Tanzania and studied at St. Augustine University in Mtwara where he achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education. Before becoming the Care & Teaching Coordinator, Emanuel was a Volunteer Coordinator. He enjoys his work as it gives him the opportunity to meet interesting people from different backgrounds. Emanuel loves reading books and is very interested in history.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Mepukori Meing'atu Olenoonjipiship

Volunteer Coordinator

Mepu was born and raised in an area of Tanzania called Malambo. This area is in the heart of Maasai land in the Ngorongoro Serengeti ecosystem. He spent his childhood in Endulen Village in the Ngorongoro Conservation Area. Mepu joined Projects Abroad in November 2016 as a Volunteer Coordinator. He enjoys meeting and working with volunteers from around the world. In his free time, he loves reading novels, chatting on social media, and travelling.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Michael Martin Shirima

Volunteer Coordinator

Michael joined Projects Abroad in January 2016 as a volunteer coordinator. He works closely with volunteers and the host families in Tanzania. He is also in charge of airport pick-ups, so he may very well be the first person you meet in Arusha. Michael has travelled throughout many countries in Africa and loves working with volunteers from all around the world.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Constantine Munishi

Volunteer Coordinator

Constantine, or Regan as he is known, joined Projects Abroad in May 2010. He is usually the first Projects Abroad face you see at the airport. He also introduces volunteers to their host families. Regan used to work as a chef at a local hotel and is famous for his Regani pizza. His hobbies include watching football, cooking and karaoke.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Elizabeth Makala

Volunteer Coordinator

Elizabeth joined Projects Abroad in November 2012 as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Micro-finance Project. She previously worked as the Branch Manager at BRAC Foundation, a micro-finance institution. Elizabeth is interested in learning about different cultures, reading and travelling.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Imane Valsan

Volunteer Advisor

Imane was born in France. After studying history and literature, she decided to travel to Africa. She is always interested in discovering something new and started working for Projects Abroad in July 2015 as a Volunteer Advisor.

Meet the team in Tanzania

Gabriela Estrada

Volunteer Advisor

Gabriela was born in Guadalajara, she has a degree in Foreign Languages. She has worked as an English teacher and translator for several years and she joined the Projects Abroad team in 2016. She loves spending time with her family and friends, reading, going to concerts and cultural events. Gabriela has had the opportunity to travel through South America and Western Europe.

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